Kerala High Court quashes decision of Speaker for disqualifying PC George as MLA

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Kochi: The order of the Assembly Speaker through which the Former rebel Kerala Congress (M) leader- P. C. George was disqualified to be a member of the House in November, 2015, is today, i.e. on Monday quashed by the High Court of Kerala.

The Kerala High Court’s concerned bench comprising of Justice- V. Chitambaresh has made this decision. Moreover, the Bench has also cited rules and directed the Speaker- N Sakthan that the application made by the leader- George should be considered again for resignation after hearing him. In the reasons for its quashing of the order of the Speaker, the Court said that the Speaker took the decision for disqualifying leader- George without considering the resignation letter which was submitted by him while the issue was pending before him.

It is notable that the disqualification of the Leader- George, as a member of the State Assembly by the Speaker was effected in the last year (November, 13th) under the provisions of the anti- defection law, after a petition was preferred by the Kerala Congress (M). Moreover, in the decision, the Speaker has also rejected the application preferred by the Leader- George for resignation from the assembly. And this application was found submitted earlier by him. As such, the decision which the Speaker has made earlier, was challenged by the Leader- George before the High Court of Kerala.

It was also seen while in the hearing of the petition, challenging decision of Speaker, that the Chief Minister- Oommen Chandy had also appeared before the Speaker for deposing against George. Moreover, it is notable that it was on the basis of the petition filed by KC- M leader and Government Chief Whip Thomas- Unniyadan, where it was sought that Leader- George be disqualified for alleged anti- party activities, the action against P.C George was taken.

P.C George who was represented Poonjar Assembly constituency and also notably he had been at loggerheads for the past one year with his party Supremo and Former Finance Minister- K. M. Mani. Thus, now his application will first be considered by the Speaker, as per direction of the honourable- high Court of Kerala.